Indian-Origin 9th Grade Student Named America’s Top Young Scientist for Inventing Pesticide-Detecting Device on Produce

Indian-origin ninth grader Sirish Subash from Snellville, Georgia, has won first place in the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2024, a premier middle school science competition held in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sirish, a student at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, secured the top spot with his innovative AI-powered handheld pesticide detector called "Pestiscand."His innovative invention earned him a USD 25,000 cash prize and the prestigious title of "America's Top Young Scientist."

The competition, organized by 3M and Discovery Education, brought together ten finalists who spent months honing their projects. Sirish's Pestiscand stood out for its ingenuity and practical application. The device uses spectrophotometry to detect pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables non-invasively by measuring light reflections and analyzing the data with a machine learning model. During tests, Pestiscand achieved over 85% accuracy in identifying pesticide residues on spinach and tomatoes, meeting both speed and effectiveness goals.

Finalists in the challenge underwent rigorous evaluations based on their creativity, application of STEM principles, passion for research, and presentation skills. They also participated in interactive challenges held at 3M’s global headquarters, where they were mentored by 3M scientists. Sirish worked closely with his mentor, Aditya Banerji, Senior Research Engineer at 3M's Corporate Research Process Laboratory, over the summer to bring his concept to life.

Second place in the competition went to Minula Weerasekera, a ninth grader from Beaverton, Oregon, who developed a novel solution for energy storage using organic compounds and sulfur-based materials. William Tan, an eighth grader from Scarsdale, New York, secured third place for his AI Smart Artificial Reef, which is designed to foster the growth of marine life in controlled environments. Both students received USD 2,000 prizes for their innovative efforts.

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge, now in its 17th year, continues to inspire young minds to develop real-world solutions using STEM principles. Past participants have gone on to deliver TED Talks, file patents, and receive recognition on prestigious lists like Forbes' 30 Under 30.

Through this initiative, 3M and Discovery Education aim to foster the next generation of innovators, providing them with resources and mentorship to transform their ideas into tangible innovations.